RGB vs CMYK colours

When you create your board in the personaliser, the colours you see on your screen are RGB. When we print it on the physical material, we use CMYK. These are two different systems and, by the laws of physics, they can't reproduce exactly the same colours. Here's what to expect.

What is RGB

RGB stands for Red · Green · Blue. It's how your screen works: each pixel emits red, green and blue light, and the mix of the three gives you the colour you see. RGB covers a very wide range of bright, saturated colours — including neon greens, electric blues and pinks that almost look fluorescent.

What is CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan · Magenta · Yellow · Key (black). It's how printing works: each ink droplet absorbs certain wavelengths and reflects others. Because of the chemistry of ink itself, CMYK can't reach the same intensity as fluorescent RGB colours.

What this means for your board

• Solid brand colours (reds, blues, greens, yellows from your club's logo) come out identical 99% of the time — the difference is imperceptible.
• Highly saturated or fluorescent colours (electric lime green, neon pink, fluorescent orange) may come out slightly more muted on the real board. It's physics, not our process.
• Blacks and whites are perfect.

How we work to minimise the difference

• We print using ICC profiles calibrated to the specific material (aluminium / composite / PVC).
• When the AI extracts the colours from your logo, it automatically selects shades within the safe CMYK gamut.
• The preview shows you a faithful representation of the printed result — no surprises.

If you need a very specific colour

For exact Pantone colours or special materials, get in touch before you pay via contact or WhatsApp. We print using ICC profiles calibrated to each material.

In practice, 99% of coaches receive their board and recognise their colours straight away. This page exists only so you know what to expect if your logo uses a very specific fluorescent.